N&R reports the N.C. House is expected to approve a “comprehensive” economic development bill that includes up to $50 million for “high yield” companies that “create a minimum of 1,750 jobs and $500 million in plant and equipment.”
Question is what effect the bill will have on the proposed “megasite” here in the Triad —- the proposed 1,800- acre site that economic developers hope will lure an automobile manufacturer:
Randolph County Commissioner David Allen is skeptical about the state’s ability to bring enough incentive power to help finish the site and recruit an employer.
“When you compare incentive to incentive, it’s still kind of on the light side,” Allen said. “In order to get these incentives you’ve got to have a manufacturer to commit, and I don’t think you’re going to have a manufacturer to commit before you’ve got the site completed.”
But for counties that are yearning for one defining project, a better incentives package means better odds.
Meanwhile, Greensboro Partnership president and CEO Brent Christensen “chafes at the suggestion that a car company is his only recruiting goal,” while commenter Alan Ferguson–a megasite opponent —says this “is NOT a bill with much relevance for the proposed and as yet largely unpurchased Randolph County megasite,” adding ” after nearly four years of work, the Randolph County megasite has as its only substantial investor in the land there–Randolph County.”
In other words, we shouldn’t hold our breath waiting for a major economic development announcement, $50 million or not.
